THE INVASIVE EXOTICS - SNEAK PREVIEW pt. 2

Some Recent Work

Clients: WBGO and SO Rhode Island Magazine.

For the past couple of months I've been working on a graphic novel. I go back and forth about the idea of web comics over printed matter; there is a lot more one can do with a web comic, but then again I hardly read anything online as it's straining on the eyes. Amazon.com, Microsoft and countless other corporations continuously attempt to put out digital readers, but from what I can see and understand they aren't catching on like Ipods or Iphones. I love the feel of paper and the book as an art form presents countless design opportunities for experimentation. Look no further than Chris Ware, or even go far back to Windsor McCay and you and me and everyone we know know how satisfying a hardcover can be.

But with this said, I've worked in black and white for almost 3 months because printing in color is too darn expensive. The above color illustration (the last one of the junk pile ant hills) was made simply because I miss color as a design element; color is extremely tricky - balancing warms and cools is only the beginning. In all honesty, this illustration I find to be a monstrosity as far as color goes, but give me a break, I just got back into the color game. I see it as a formal exercise.

Coming up on this blog is another preview of the Invasive Exotics. My due date is September 30th and things are on schedule for publication.

Reading List:

* "Akira" by Katsuhiro Otomo: A Japanesse cultural anomoly that is a metaphor for Hiroshima. The book's audience is clear; it is geared towards testosterone filled adolescents and repressed buisnessmen. It isn't for everybody because somebody implodes or gets run over on basically EVERY page (not to mention future Neo-Tokyo EXPLODES). With this said, Otomo is THE master of creating envirornment. His architectural drawing is flawless and if a cartoonist wants to know how to use a setting as a character, this is the series for them. I'd love to get a discussion going somewhere based on how spaztic the sequencing in this book is in comparison to something like Jimmy Corrigan or Tintin; I read it OK, but I can see how someone who didn't grow up reading comic books would have trouble figuring out what the hell was going on.

"Tintin and the Secret of Literature" by Tom McCarthy: A phonominal disection of Herge's classic series, this book is an essential to anyone enthusiastic about the Adventures of Tintin. McCarthy explores not only how the Tintin series breaks down story structure to bare elements, but also the dualistic nature of Herge the man. In the end, Tintin is THE series if one wants to understand a 20th century European male worldview.

"The Gift" by Lewis Hyde: I'm still digesting this one, but basically it's about the difference between a capitalistic society versus a gift exchange society. I'll write more when I'm done reading it ...

MOCCA FESTIVAL WAS FUN! IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO UPLOAD THE GRAPHIC NOVEL/ZINE SECTION OF MY WEBSITE, SO FOR ALL THE OLD FRIENDS I SAW AT MOCCA TODAY WHO DIDN'T PICK UP A SNEAK PREVIEW OF "THE INVASIVE EXOTICS", HERE IS JANE EASEWELL, OUR STORY'S PROTAGANIST, BREAKING INTO AN ICE CREAM FACTORY. COMING OUT 2010, 80+ pages.

Big thanks to Allison Cole; art direction. For SO Rhode Island Magazine.

MOTHER'S DAY POST (FROM THE FAR REACHES OF THE UNIVERSE)

Hey! The new Star Trek movie is out; I'm so glad it's gotten good reviews and generally everyone I've spoken to has said good things. I grew up on TNG (reference picture above*) and since it's mother's day, I have a very special story about growing up Trek with my mom.

I think it was the winter of 1992 or 1993; living right in between Boston and New Hampshire, you didn't go out a whole lot in the dead of winter. Winter in this area of the world means lots of dirty snow covered in street salt that never goes away because it never gets warm enough to melt.

You find yourself staying in a whole lot. Luckily for the Turnbull family, WNDS 50, "The Winds of New England" ... the station located in Portsmouth, N.H., had just the cure for the snowy prime time blues. 2 repeat episodes of "The Simpsons" followed by an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation".

The combination was perfect; 2 comedies and a drama. The Simpsons supplied us with a satrical whit, pop culture maxims and dark humor while Star Trek lifted our souls and let us imagine about a future better than the ones we were in; ones with Klingon, Vulcans and other cultures yet to even be discovered. And the most surreal part?


This guy was the weather man in between the Simpsons and Star Trek and if you watch this video you'll know he's total viral video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nplpiNH5Nqw&feature=related ... this video is a bit bland (even though he has the best New Hampshire accent ever) but when this guy was younger he was SO PUMPED on doing the weather.

It wasn't like we were obsessed; it was a dark time for the Celtics in 92/93 (Bird started having back problems, Reggie Lewis DIED) and this seemed to be the only other family friendly 2 hour pack for family bonding, since the Family Channel, as we all agreed, was weird.

But we started really getting into it. So when we started channel surfing between it and the two weeks of the Winter Olympics, it got a little discombobulating.

We knew it was time to take a TV break when my mother said, "Why, this downhill skiing event really doesn't represent anyone! Where are the Klingon, where are the Romulians?"

I've never told my mom this, but I was right there with her in the fantasy. For a moment, I logically paused and thought "The Romulans are not a part of the Federation, mom."

But at around the exact same time, we both came to our senses and realized we had become, if we wanted to believe it or not, Trekkies. We turned off the Television, I retreated into my room to doodle space ships and I suspect my mother did a cross word puzzle.

Happy Mother's Day, everyone!

**********

I just watched this video above and thought to myself; this is what mom must have felt when the Beatles started dressing in bright colors and traveling to India.

This band plays pop songs that sound so familiar and from so many different histories. I hear the beach boys, Paul Simon's "graceland", house and afrobeats, maybe even chanting(and scatting? - What do you call what Avey Tare is doing with his voice?) ... and the lyrics re-enforce the nostalgic themes; the song references wearing summertime clothes and taking off your socks - a poetic visual both mundane and sublime. Mundane because it is a logical solution to the weather, sublime in the erotic undertones. A perfect pop song: made for the season, just a little dirty and just weird and psychedelic enough to be appealing to just about anyone whose got a lil' freak in them.

* Note scene is of Lt. Commander Geordi LaForge's mandolin being taken away by Lt. Commander Worf. They are dressed in Robin Hood attire in an extended space of reality by the cosmic trouble maker "Q". This is the famous episode where Worf insists to Captain Picard that he is "Not a merry man."

Dropping in MAY!

Hey hey hey! Jack Turnbull reporting from Bedstuy. The weather today was non-descript and ever changing; rainy at times but the day ending out with a rainbow (I didn't see it, but I'm sure it must of happened at some point). I only got outside to deliver a changing table to a lady in an amazing residential spot around north 11th.

I keep seeing all these luxury lofts being put up all around Brooklyn and I wonder if anyone is going to move in sometimes...

Up top: New Southern Rhode Island Magazine illustration. Once again a big thanks out to Allison Cole, art director and so much more.

THEN!!! ----> Coming out soonish (gimmie time, I'm about 1/3 done and 30 pages deep) THE INVASIVE EXOTICS!!!!

PS ---




I knew the above image was missing something! Meditative textile patterns loosely based on totem poles; of course, duh.